Bon-Accord celebrates 60th anniversary with Gala Concert

Bon-Accord Silver Band celebrated its 60th year with a special Anniversary Gala Concert on Sunday 18 June in the Tivoli Theatre in Aberdeen.

The event saw both the Bon-Accord Silver, under the direction of Steven Malcolm, and Bon-Accord B, conducted by Jennifer Cook, bands take to the stage. And in a grand finale, members were joined on stage by former players (below) for the piece Hootenanny to bring the afternoon to a rousing conclusion.

Hootenanny was often chosen as the closing item of a concert programme by the band’s founder Stewart Watson MBE.

The Bon-Accord Silver Band was founded in 1962 by Stewart Watson to provide a brass band for school pupils to play in when they left school. The band has gone from strength to strength, having played in the Championship section for several years and has represented Scotland at both the National Finals and at the European championships.

The band has toured Germany, the Scottish islands, Dublin, as well as performing around Aberdeen and raising money for charities in the local area. Perhaps more importantly is the consideration of the band as a family by both its current and past players who hold an affection for the band even after many years apart.

In 1978 due to the expansion of the band’s membership a B Band was formed, the creation of which gave players contest and concert experience and the opportunity to move up to the Silver Band.

The B Band’s initial musical director was Moira Ross who was the first female to conduct a band at the Scottish Championships.

The 60th Anniversary Gala Concert featured a programme of music old and new, with some pieces from memorable moments in the band’s history.

During the concert special presentations were made on behalf of the Scottish Brass Band Association to two players Karen Crozier and Ann Murray who received SBBA life membership long service awards. The band’s chairman and principal cornet Dr David Cooper (below) was awarded an honorary membership to the Scottish Brass Band Association for services to banding.

The band was delighted to be joined for the event by all of Stewart Watson’s children, all of whom played with the band over the years. “It was wonderful to be joined in the theatre by many former players and friends of the band who wished the band continued success and music making for the next 60 years and beyond,” said band secretary Ann Murray.

One of the guests at the occasion was Jim Wishart, president of the Northern Counties Brass Band Association. He remarked: “It was a privilege to be a guest at the Anniversary Gala Concert.”

There was a reception for invited guests in the Leonardo Hotel after the event where many photographs of the band over the past 60 years were on display.